Unit 1 Notes: The Global Tapestry (1200–1450)

What dynasty united the divided regions of China in 960 CE?

The Song Dynasty.

What was the primary ideology that influenced the bureaucracy of the Song Dynasty?

Confucianism.

What system did the Song Dynasty implement to shift power from hereditary leaders to scholarly leaders?

The civil service exam.

What was the significance of foot binding in Song China?

It became a status symbol for upper-class women, indicating they did not need to work.

What major trade route did Song China participate in?

The Silk Road.

What was 'flying cash' in the context of Song China?

Paper money that was overprinted, leading to inflation.

What agricultural innovations contributed to population growth in Song China?

Metalworking and iron plows.

What was the Grand Canal's purpose in China?

To connect the north and south of China.

Which Japanese period was influenced by Chinese culture?

Heian Japan (794-1185).

What form of Buddhism became popular in China during this period?

Mahayana Buddhism.

What was the Abbasid Caliphate's significance in Islamic history?

It became the leading power after the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate.

What was the House of Wisdom known for during the Abbasid Caliphate?

It was a center of learning that preserved and expanded upon ancient knowledge.

What tax incentivized conversions to Islam in the Abbasid Caliphate?

The Jizya tax.

What was Baghdad known as during the Abbasid Caliphate?

The 'Round City' and capital of the caliphate.

What innovation improved trade during the Abbasid Caliphate?

The use of Dhows with lateen sails.

What was a major factor in the cultural flourishing of the Islamic Golden Age?

Increased trade and religious tolerance.

What system was developed to reduce risks associated with carrying coins in trade?

A credit system with receipts and bills.

What medical advancements occurred during the Islamic Golden Age?

Improved hospitals and medical care.

What was a significant societal structure in the Abbasid Caliphate?

The reliance on slave labor.

What internal division contributed to the decline of the Islamic world?

The Sunni vs. Shia conflict.

What was the role of sultans in the Islamic world?

Non-Arabic rulers who still followed Islam.

What was a major characteristic of the Islamic Golden Age?

The preservation and translation of ancient Greek texts.

What marked the end of the Islamic Golden Age in Baghdad?

The Mongols took over Baghdad in 1258 during the Crusades.

What were the main external threats to the Islamic states during this period?

The Seljuk Turks, Persians, Byzantines, Europeans during the Crusades, and Mongols.

What was the significance of the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate?

It prospered by trading sugar and cotton from 1250 to 1517 but fell when Portuguese and European trade increased.

What was the role of Sufi missionaries in Islamic culture?

Sufi missionaries used mystic rituals and adjusted to local cultures to appeal to diverse populations.

What was the duration of the Ottoman Empire?

The Ottoman Empire lasted from 1299 to 1918.

What was the significance of Al-Andalus in Islamic history?

Al-Andalus was an Islamic empire in Spain that served as a center of learning from 711 to 1492.

Who was Ibn Rushd and why is he significant?

Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, was a scholar from Al-Andalus known for his contributions to philosophy and science.

How were women viewed in Islamic society compared to Christian or Jewish societies?

Women had a higher status in Islamic society, were respected by Muhammad, and female infanticide was forbidden.

What cultural practices were associated with women in Islamic societies?

Women lived in harems, which were dwellings for wives in polygamous families, and the hijab was commonly worn.

What was the impact of urban development on women's status in Islamic societies?

Oppression of women increased with the development of cities and towns.

What was the dominant religion in India during 1200-1450?

Hinduism, with a Buddhist minority.

What empire ruled northern India from 1206 to 1526?

The Delhi Sultanate.

Who was Mahmud of Ghazna?

A leader of the Ghaznavid Empire who launched expeditions from Afghanistan and established the capital at Ghazni.

What was the role of rajas in pre-Turkish India?

Rajas were rival chiefs who gained power by granting land to Brahmans, who spread Hinduism and taught agriculture.

How did the Ghaznavid Empire influence Indian culture?

It brought political integration while strengthening cultural diversity, accepting local customs like the caste system.

What was the jizya tax?

A tax collected from non-Muslims under Islamic rule.

What was the Bhakti movement?

A 12th-century movement in Hinduism emphasizing emotional devotion to one god.

What was the significance of the Vijayanagara Empire?

Established in South India by former Delhi Sultanate brothers, it became a major trading hub.

What was the Majapahit Empire?

A sea-based empire in Java that controlled trade routes and was predominantly Buddhist.

What characterized the Khmer Empire?

A land-based empire in Cambodia known for its advanced irrigation systems and initial Hinduism followed by Buddhism.

What was the role of trade in Southeast Asia's religious spread?

Religion spread through trade, with Hinduism and Buddhism being prominent.

What was the governance structure of the Mayan Empire?

Decentralized city-states with no standing army.

What was the Aztec Empire's capital?

Tenochtitlan, located on Lake Texcoco.

What was the Inca Empire's approach to governance?

A bureaucratic system with a ruler claiming to be the sun god Inti's representative.

What was the Mita System in the Inca Empire?

A mandatory public service system for labor.

What was the significance of the Cahokia site?

It was the largest mound of the Mississippian culture, showcasing their earthen mound construction.

What led to the decline of the Mississippian culture?

Possible causes include European diseases or agricultural failures.

What was the role of griots in Mali?

Oral storytellers who recounted the Epic of Sundiata, describing the rise of Mali's founder.

Who was Mansa Musa?

The nephew of Sundiata, known for his wealth and extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca.

What was Timbuktu known for during the Mali Empire?

It was an important center for trade and Islamic learning, featuring a large mosque and university.

What characterized the Songhai Empire?

It rose to power after Mali's decline, becoming a significant empire in West Africa.

What was the primary agricultural product of the Mayan Empire?

Maize.

What was the significance of the Delhi Sultanate's conversion policies?

Initially forceful, they later became more peaceful, allowing for the coexistence of religions.

How did the Turks assimilate into Indian culture?

They adopted local beliefs and customs while maintaining their own identity.

What was the impact of the Bantu migrations in Africa?

They spread the Swahili language, ironworking, and irrigation techniques.

What was the economic significance of the port of Quilon?

It was a trading hotspot between China and the Mediterranean, facilitating extensive trade.

What was the primary feature of the Aztec expansion policy?

It relied on conquest and alliances to expand their territory.

What was the primary reason for the conversion to Sunni Islam in the empires?

To integrate the empire.

When did the Kingdom of Ghana exist?

c. 300 - c. 1100

What characterized the organization of communities before the establishment of Ghana?

Communities were organized through kinship, age, and gender.

What was the peak period of the Kingdom of Ghana?

In the 8th and 11th centuries.

What resources did Ghana's rulers trade with Muslim traders?

Gold and ivory in exchange for salt, copper, cloth, and tools.

What mode of transportation was crucial for trade in Ghana?

Caravans along with camels.

What led to the weakening of Ghana in the 12th century?

Wars with neighboring societies and a holy war from Muslims led by Abu Bakr.

What new trading society emerged after the decline of Ghana?

Mali.

What was the time period of Great Zimbabwe?

c. 1000 - c. 1400.

What type of government did Great Zimbabwe have?

Centralized government under a king.

What language was predominantly spoken in Great Zimbabwe?

Bantu.

What architectural feature is Great Zimbabwe known for?

Great walls.

What type of society contributed to the formation of Great Zimbabwe?

A largely pastoral society coming together for protection.

What led to the collapse of Great Zimbabwe?

Population left for new lands due to overharvesting.

What was the time frame of Ethiopia/Abyssinia's prominence?

1270 - 1974.

How did the spread of Islam affect Ethiopia?

It made the region religiously diverse.

What unique development occurred in Ethiopian Christianity?

It developed separately from Rome and the Orthodox Church.

What was the significance of the Kingdom of Axum in the 12th century?

It emerged as a Christian-led kingdom that prospered through trade.

What significant event marked the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

The fall occurred in 476 C.E.

What continued in the east after the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

The Byzantine Empire continued from 395 to 1453.

What was the political structure of Europe during the period 1200-1450?

Europe was fractured into small tribal kingdoms engaged in constant battles for dominance.

What is feudalism?

A system of mutual obligations where kings granted land to vassals in exchange for service and tribute.

What role did knights play in the feudal system?

Knights were employed by vassals for protection in exchange for money.

What was the status of serfs in the feudal system?

Serfs lived on the land of lords, were tied to the land, and worked in exchange for a home and some food.

Why is the period known as the Dark Ages?

It is characterized by a decline in the standard of living and intellectual life.

What agricultural innovation was developed during this time?

The three-field system, allowing for crop rotation and maximum production.

What was manorialism?

An economic system that governed the relationship between lords and serfs.

What significant political change occurred in the High Middle Ages?

Power shifted from feudal lords to more powerful monarchs.

What were two ways monarchs established their power?

By creating large bureaucracies and conscripting standing armies directly answerable to the king.

What was the Magna Carta and when was it signed?

Signed in 1215, it shifted power back to the nobles and established rights such as a jury trial and property ownership.

What was the English Parliament established in 1265?

A body representing the interests of the noble class.

How did the Roman Catholic Church influence education during this period?

It established the first universities in Europe and funded art for visual education.

What was the purpose of the Crusades?

To reclaim Jerusalem from Muslims, advocated by the Pope and Christendom.

What impact did Marco Polo's travels have on Europe?

His accounts opened European imagination to the exotic cultures and wealth of the Far East.

What economic class began to rise during this period?

The middle class, known as the bourgeoisie, which included shopkeepers, merchants, and small landowners.

What climatic event affected agricultural productivity in the late 13th century?

A Small Ice Age led to a decrease in temperatures and agricultural productivity.

What was the Renaissance and its time frame?

A cultural rebirth of ancient Greek and Roman culture, art, and literature from c.1300 to c.1600.